Mouthguard

Abstract

The invention involves a mouthguard to optimize breathing while providing protection from physical blows. A mouthguard can include a plurality of conduits running substantially anterior-to-posterior therethrough.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Mouthguards are known for protecting the teeth, jaw, and head during activities involving the risk of encountering blows to the face or head, such as athletics. Such mouthguards conventionally employ a resilient material for separating the upper and lower jaws to reduce the potential for damage to a user upon impact.[0002]It is desirable to provide a substantial amount of cushioning between the upper and lower jaws, yet too much such material interferes with breathing and thereby may hamper the performance of a user. It is therefore a problem in the art to provide a mouthguard which provides a substantial amount of cushioning between the jaws so as to protect the teeth and jaws without obstructing breathing.[0003]It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0004]The invention provides a mouthguard to optimize breathing while providing optimal protection from physical blows. In ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In some embodiments, the maximum impact force along the superior-inferior axis is reduced by at least 50% relative to the maximum impact force of an input pulse.

[0010]In some embodiments, the mouthguard is integrally molded using a single material. In other embodiments, the upper channel and the lower channel are a different material than the connecting portion. In some embodiments, the upper channel and the lower channel are a thermoplastic polymer that softens when heated to between about 100 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit and stiffens when cooled. The mouthguard can have a heat-resistant mold (e.g., one or more pronged inserts) occupying the conduit space to preserve the structure of the connecting portion during heating.

[0013]In some embodiments, the buccal walls of the upper and lower channels widen the lateral span of a user's lips by at least 10% relative to said user's at-rest state, said widening operative to expose one or more lateral air conduits to the exterior air.

[0014]In some embodiments, the interior and exterior surface of the material surrounding each conduit is rounded or contoured to reduce disruptions in the air flowing through the conduits.

[0017]In some embodiments, the mouthguard serves to provide optimal realignment of the user's upper and lower jaws and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), to further reduce the impact force and resulting trauma that may result from direct force transmission through the jaw into the cranium.Definitions

Problems solved by technology

It is desirable to provide a substantial amount of cushioning between the upper and lower jaws, yet too much such material interferes with breathing and thereby may hamper the performance of a user.

It is therefore a problem in the art to provide a mouthguard which provides a substantial amount of cushioning between the jaws so as to protect the teeth and jaws without obstructing breathing.

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